As swine flu again rears its head in some parts of the country, the second indigenous vaccine against the virus was launched here Tuesday.

The vaccine, manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India is the second in a series of four to be manufactured and is in the form of a nasal spray.

“This vaccine was earlier used on people in Russia and the USA and no side effect was noticed. In India, two trials have been successfully condcuted,” said Cyrus Poonawala, chairman of the Serum Institute of India.

The vaccine has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for usage by any individual above 3 years of age, except pregnant women. This is an advantage considering that the vaccine launched by Zydus Cadila last month can only be used by people above 18 years of age.

“It was trialled in two phases. In the first phase, from the age group of 3 to 18 years and in second, from 18 years and above,” Poonawala said.

The vaccine is priced at Rs.158.

A total of 332 swine flu cases have been reported from across the country in the last one week.

Kerala, with 121 cases, has recorded the highest number, closely followed by Maharashtra with 102 swine flu cases.

A total of 22 swine flu related deaths have been reported from across the country so far. The first swine flu death in West Bengal was reported Tuesday.

Swine Flu claimed 10 lives during the week ending 4th of this month. All the deaths have been reported from Kerala. The highest number of fresh cases , 222 out of total of 370 were also reported from Kerala.

72 cases were reported from Maharashtra and 22 from Tamil Nadu during the period.

Washing your hands is one of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid infections such as H1N1 and seasonal influenza, says a Geisinger physician. “Washing your hands is one of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid infections such as H1N1 and seasonal influenza,” said Lisa Esolen, M.D., Medical Director of Infection Control, Geisinger Health System.

“Because this year’s H1N1 virus has been so contagious and has rapidly spread widely, it is especially important to remember to wash your hands,” she added. “We don’t realise how often we touch our eyes, nose or mouth after having touched food, other people, or inanimate objects, all of which carry germs, that can lead to illness” Dr. Esolen said. “Handwashing is the single most effective way to minimize your risk for getting and infection or spreading one to others.”

To properly wash your hands, run them under running water and then apply soap. Rub vigorously for at least 20 seconds (say your ABC’s or sing “Happy Birthday” twice) develop a thick lather, and then rinse and dry. “You should always wash your hands before eating, after sneezing, coughing, and after touching anything dirty,” Dr. Esolen said.

London, Nov 14 : The virus responsible for causing common cold may help fend off common cold, reveals a new study.

In the study, researchers found that that the percentage of throat swabs from French respiratory illnesses that tested positive for swine flu fell in September, while at the same time rhinovirus, which causes colds, rose.

Jean-Sebastien Casalegno of the French national flu lab at the University of Lyon said that in late October, rhinovirus fell – at the same time as flu rose.

He believes rhinovirus may have blocked the spread of swine flu via a process called viral interference.

“We think that when you get one infection, it turns on your antiviral defences, and excludes the other viruses,” New Scientist quoted Ab Osterhaus at the University of Rotterdam in the Netherlands as saying.

However, process of interference is unclear, as there have been cases where there is no interference, and people catch two viruses at the same time.

In another study, Mia Brytting of the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control in Solna reported a rise in rhinovirus coupled with a decrease in swine flu.

Washington, Nov 11  : People with less education could be more vulnerable to contracting H1N1 infection and the vaccine might be less effective in them compared to those who earned a high school diploma, according to a new study.

In the study, researchers focused on CMV, a latent virus in the herpes family. Infection is common but the majority of people aren”t symptomatic because the immune system keeps the virus under control.

But people of lower income and education lose immune control more easily, probably due to stress.

“What is going on with the dramatic (downturn) in the economy could actually translate into people”s susceptibility to these diseases,” said study’s co-author Jennifer Dowd.

Previous studies have shown that high levels of CMV antibodies make it tougher for the elderly to fight new infections like H1N1, and hampers the body”s immune response to the flu vaccine.

The University of Michigan study suggests that lower socioeconomic status may make it tougher even for adults of all ages to fight new infections and may make the flu vaccine less effective.

“We”re showing that the ability to keep CMV under control varies by income and education even at much younger ages, and this could have implications for the ability to fight new infections like H1N1 for all ages, not just the elderly,” Dowd added.

“We looked at CMV because it is an infection that is not cleared from the body but rather persists in a latent state with periodic reactivations in generally healthy individuals,” said co-author Allison Aiello, assistant professor of epidemiology at University of Michigan SPH.

“Immune response to CMV may serve as a marker of general immune alterations and is therefore an important indicator of health risks,” Aiello added.

The study appears in an upcoming issue of the journal Epidemiology.

Ahmedabad: Hemlata Rajawat, 40, also succumbed to H1N1 virus in Civil hospital in Ahmedabad on Monday. A 30-year-old woman, Bhanu Pariya, who had tested positive for swine flu, died at the VS Hospital in Ahmedabad on Monday taking the death toll due to the H1N1 infection in Gujarat to 42.

Pariya was a resident of Lunapura village near Abu Road in Rajsthan. She was admitted to Sirohi General Hospital after she started facing health problems.As her condition deteriorated, doctors asked her family to take her to Ahmedabad to get better treatment.
She was brought to Ahmedabad on Sunday evening and admitted in VS Hospital, said health officials. Her sample was sent for testing on Sunday evening.

“Pariya was on the last stage of the infection when she was brought here, so it was difficult to save her,” said officials. Pariya’s relatives have been given dose of Tamiflu and all the information with contact number of the relatives of Priya have been provided to Rajasthan Government for continuing their treatment, said official.

Four more persons, including three women, tested positive for the deadly virus on Monday, they said.The victims are undergoing treatment in hospitals of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Jamnagar. At present, 18 persons are being treated at various hospitals in the state.

Till date, 297 people have tested positive for swine flu in Gujarat, including chief minister Narendra Modi.

Washington, November 9  : A case of an indoor 13-year-old house cat in Iowa who has contracted the deadly H1N1 flu while living with two flu-sick owners has fuelled concerns if the illness can spread from humans to animals.

The Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed the latest H1N1 animal case, renewing interest on the topic of humans as the primary carriers of the illness.

“We”re seeing reverse zoonosis, with the virus jumping from people to animals,” Discovery News quoted Alfonso Torres as saying.

But the former chief veterinary officer of the United States who is now associate dean for public policy at Cornell University”s College of Veterinary Medicine added: “In theory, cats could infect humans, but there is no evidence for that yet.”

Though the reason behind why ferrets and cats may be more at risk to H1N1 flu is yet to be determined, Torres explained that “viruses need receptors” to allow infection of an individual.

Torres said: “The human H1N1 vaccine may or may not work in cats. There are some 60 million cats and only the one reported case, so the risk of other cats becoming infected appears to be low at this point.”

Michael San Filippo, a spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association, further said the cat H1N1 case “provides a good reminder that viruses can pass from humans to animals.”

Washington, Oct 29 (ANI): With as much information as we all are hearing about swine flu, there is also a lot of misinformation.

Therefore, learning about myths surrounding swine flu can provide protection against the virus, reports New Scientist.

The eight myths about swine flu are:

Myth 1 - The symptoms are like regular flu, such as fever

Testing for fever may not be a reliable way of diagnosing swine flu. Up to half the people who get swine flu never develop a fever, and some suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms as well as more standard flu symptoms.

Myth 2 - This is just mild flu. The death rates are even lower than for normal flu

Swine flu is killing young people rather than the very elderly, and although winter is just starting, more young people have already died of flu than normally die over the entire winter.

Myth 3 – Healthy people are safe. Only sick, weak people get really ill

Most of the kids who have died of swine flu were perfectly healthy beforehand, and many of the adult victims also had no underlying conditions.

Myth 4 – Eating organic food, taking vitamins, wearing a mask, washing hands and drinking plenty of fluids will offer protection

Getting vaccinated is by far the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from swine flu.

Myth 5 – No worries, now that vaccines are available.

Vaccines will save lives, but only if they get through in time. Even in rich countries, it will be months before everyone who wants the vaccine can get it. Poor countries will get little if any vaccine.

Myth 6 -The vaccine isn”t safe. No point taking the risk to prevent mild flu

During past pandemics, a third or more of the entire population has got flu, and the risks of flu killing you or causing nasty problems such as Guillain-Barré syndrome are far greater than those of the vaccines.

Myth 7 - This virus won”t get deadlier

Flu viruses do sometimes get nastier. No one can be sure how 2009 flu will evolve, but it”s certainly not going away.

Myth 8 – Once this pandemic is over, world will be safe for another few decades

Another animal flu virus could jump to humans tomorrow and start another pandemic, which could be far worse than 2009 swine flu. (ANI)

London, Oct. 28  : Footballers have been told to stop spitting on the pitch because it increases the risk of spreading swine flu.

The Football Association and Barclays Premier League said they were following guidance from health experts in handling the issue.

The warning comes after the virus struck down players at two Premier League clubs, reports The Telegraph.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the ””disgusting”” habit – a common sight at many matches – could lead to infections being passed on.

””Spitting is disgusting at all times. It”s unhygienic and unhealthy, particularly if you spit close to other people. Footballers, like the rest of us, wouldn”t spit indoors so they shouldn”t do it on the football pitch. If they are spitting near other people it could certainly increase the risk of passing on infections,”” said a HPA spokesman.bag top honours at Hollywood Awards        Home

Washington, October 28 (ANI): Hilary Swank and Robert DeNiro have bagged top honours at the 13th annual Hollywood Awards.

Two-time Oscar winner Swank won the Hollywood Actress Award for her performance in Mira Nair’s biopic ‘Amelia’.

“I have to say it”s something very surreal,” Fox News quoted the actress as saying.

“But to have your work recognized? At the end of it all is something that continues to leave me speechless,” she added.

DeNiro took home the Best Actor Award for his work as Frank in ‘Everybody”s Fine’.

Others honoured included Julianne Moore, who won the Hollywood Supporting Actress Award for ‘A Single Man’, Carey Mulligan who bagged Hollywood Breakthrough Actress Award for ‘An Education’, and Christoph Waltz who pocketed Hollywood Supporting Actor Award for ‘Inglorious Basterds’.

Washington, October 24 (ANI): Scientists in Japan have created a new robot that sweats, moans, and exhibits symptoms of the H1N1 swine flu virus, in order to help train health care workers.

According to a report in National Geographic News, the life-sized humanoid was unveiled on October 22 at the Security and Safety Trade Expo, in Tokyo.

It exhibits symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus, and is designed to help health care workers diagnose and treat swine flu.

The robot is coated in a human-like skin.

With its animatronics, it sweats, moans, cries and convulses just like a human would when infected with the H1N1 virus.

If the robot is not treated properly, the symptoms gradually get worse and the robot stops breathing and dies.

While patient simulator robots are not new, this one may be the first designed to exhibit symptoms for just one disease.

The robot was one exhibit among many others at the show aimed to either help prevent or aid treatment of the H1N1flu. (ANI)